ENRICH – Educator of the Year Laurie Farquharson

Laurie Farquharson loves her ministry as the long-time (27 years) Director of Christian Education at Wekiva Presbyterian Church PC(USA) in Longwood, FL. Laurie was a “home-grown” educator, receiving a call to ministry in her own local church after a short career in elementary education and years of church volunteer work.

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She began as a cradle Presbyterian with a good liberal arts education (a B. A. in English Literature with a minor in Elementary Education) from Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia. After answering God’s call to educational ministry with fear and trepidation she loved taking educator certification courses at Princeton Seminary, Columbia Seminary and Union-PSCE and continues to treasure every opportunity to learn and grow as a Christian educator.

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Her areas of responsibility at Wekiva have adjusted as the church had need over the years but now include children’s ministry, adult educational ministry, and Stephen Ministry (lay caregiving). She is the staff liaison/permanent Board member for the church’s large traditional preschool program, does their chapel weekly, and teaches at least three Presbyterian Women Circles each month.

She is an active member of APCE (Association of Presbyterian Church Educators) and is most excited and very humbled to be named the 2017 APCE Educator of the Year. She is just completing her first term on the APCE Administrative Ministry Team.

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Laurie has also served in a variety of ways for Central Florida Presbytery and the PC(USA)—from Committee on Ministry member to G.A. 221 Commissioner—and is currently the Chairperson of the Leadership Development Committee, on the Presbytery Council, and is a reader for ordination exams.

As a widow with two beloved grandchildren and one dearly-loved son, Laurie enjoys trying out new recipes, watches way too much TV, loves being surrounded by books and feels most at home learning and teaching—especially about theology, Scripture, and the Christian life.